



V. VDN CZERWENY AND E. BLUMEL` MATCHMAKNG MACHINE.

AFPucAloN man mmm. 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET i.

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V. VON CZBWENY AND E. BLMEL.

MATCHMAKING MACHINE.

APPLlcATsoN man 1AN.24.19|9.

1 ,41 9, 999 Patented June 20, 1922 2 SHEETS-*SHEET Z.

L9. We z heb:

.means for forcing match UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VICTOR VON CZERWENY, OF DEUTSCHLANDSBERG, AND EDUARD '.BLBLUEL` OF ST. POLTEN, AUSTRIA.

MATCHMAKING MACHINE.

Application led January 24, 1919.

To afl whom if 7111121/ concern Be it known that we` Vieron vonv (aenweNY. managing director. at Deutschlandsberg. in the` county of Styria` in the Empire of Austria. and llnnnnn Bliixuni., engineer. at St. lolten. in the county of Lo\\'eV.\u.f: tria` in the Empire of Austria. have in vented new and useful improvements in Matchmaking Machines, (for which we have tiled a )plications in Austria. tiled July QT. 1917: lungary, filed May :25. 191%; Sweden. filed May 24. 191B: Switzerland. filed May 25. 1918; Denmark` tiled May Q9. 1918: Italy. tiled May 31. 1918: Germany. filed May 31, 1918: Holland. tiled June l1, 19124; Norway. tiled June 1H. 191B Czechoslovakia. tiled .lune 18. 191i); loland` tiled June 121. 1920). of which the following is a specitica tion.

This invention relates to improvements in match making machines and refers cs pecialllv to the appliances for pushing the match sticks in the carrier hclts ot' automatic match making machines.

ln machines heretofore used having sticks into the carrier. the match sticks fall from a supply hopper upon a grooved plate movable to ward the carrier.` and the match sticks are forced into the carrier by a setting head or the like. Vith apparatus of that kind it is of great importance that the grooves oll the grooved plate prior filled with match sticks. he cleared of all sticks` splinters` or other particles which might have remained in the grooves from a previous operation, in order to allow the match sticks to assume the proper position in the grooves and to be properly forced into the holes of the carrier. Such clearing of the grooves has been effected in a satisfactory manner by means of needles of suitable length and movable with respect to the grooved plate. but these needles offered the disadvantage that in consequence of their comparatively great length they were easily bent thus destroying the accuracy of inserting the match sticks.

Constructions in which the setting head is formed integral with the grooved plate presented the drawback that a total clearing Specification of Letters Patent.

to their heine' again Patented June 20. 1922.

Serial No. 272,976.

of the grooves along their entire length, :is for example by means of a needle comb lowered from ahove or by similar means, was impossible so that at least the most rearward parts of the grooves always would remain uncleaned. This caused an imperlect falling of the sticks into the grooves of the plate.

Vertical displacement of the setting head with regard to the grooved plate for the purpose of allowing the setting head to be lowered after insertion of the sticks effected far enough to free the ends of the grooves of the grooved plate has a disad vantage that there is required a co1npli cated mechanism which cannot always be relied upon and which unfavorably etfects a reliable horizontal guidance ot the grooved plate in a straight line.

ov; the appliance of our present invention removes all tht` said drawbacks in that the setting head at the beginning of the rearward movement of the grooved plate in consequence of a relative horizontal dis placement makes free the rear ends of the grooves of the grooved plate thus allowing a comb lowered down into the grooves of the grooved plate during its rearward movement to clean the grooves along their entire length. The said relative horizontal displacement of tfhe setting head may be either a leading movement in the direction of its hack stroke or a transverse one, if the setting head is provided also with grooves like theJgrooved plate. The relative displacement of the setting head in a horizontal direction with regard to the grooved plate allows of a simple and reliable guidance in straight line and in the direction of the insertion of the match sticks so that accuracy in the insertion of the match sticks is ensured.

As regards construction of the appliance the invention may be executed in several modifications as will be hereinafter described with reference to the annexed sheets of drawings.

First it must be observed that the grooved plate may he constructed with grooves alternating in two or more depths in order to be able to insert Simultaneously two or more rows of match-sticks in the carrying belt and of displacing the grooved plate or the setting` head in a vertical direction.

Figures 1 to 4 of the drawing represent in elevation and in four steps of work one modification of the inserting appl iance.whilst Figure 5 shows the same in plan.

Figures 6 and T ri-Ppresent a further modification of the appliance in elevation and in two steps ot' work;

Figure 8 is a plan of same.

Figures 9 to 12 show cross-sections ot' the grooved plate and of the setting head hereinafter referred to.

In the modification shown in Figures 1 to 5 there guided on the table l of the frame 2 a transverse ledge 3 which supports by means of a bracket 3 the grooved plate 4. ln the starting position as represented in Fig. l the plate 4 exactly below the hopper 5 containing the match sticks. At the rear of plate 4 there is arranged on the table t also the setting head. That part of the setiting head which projects over the ledge is in the same plane with the grooved plate 4.

The length of plate 4 in the direction of its movement. that is to Say in a direction perpendicular to the carrier 7 which is provided with a series of holes for the reception of the match sticks, is somewhat shorter than that of the match sticks, so that free spaces remain between the ends ofthe grooved plate 4 and the lower edges of the side walls of hopper 5. through which sticks may drop down which lie transversely in the hopper. In order to allow dropping down ofsuch match sticks also on the rear side of the grooved plate 4 the setting head G in the starting position of the parts shown in Fig. 1 is withdrawn far enough so as to allow a free space to remain between its front edge and the rear edge of grooved )late 4 through which free space transverse y lying match sticks may dro The drive ofpplate 4 as well as ol' setting head-6 is effected by means of levers S pivoted at 9 t'o the frame 2. These levers act upon 'ledve 3 of the grooved plate 4 by means of inks 10 and upon settinghead ti Ioy means of links 11. Hence when levers H are oscillated about their connection at 5J the grooved plate 4 and the setting head 6 will receive a reciprocating movement on the table l. i

As the setting head 6 is connected to the levers 8 nearer to their ends than the grooved plate 4, the to and fromovement ofthe grooved plate 4 is a slower one than that of the setting head 6 and the conditions are such that the free space between the setting head 6 and the grooved plate 4 gradually diminishes during the forward movement of the two parts, so that this space fflisappears at the end of movement.` that is to say, the front end of the settimr head (i abuis the rear end of the groovei plate 4. when the forward movement of the two parts is completed. Figure 3 represents this position of parts. while Figure 2 shows an intermediate position during their forward movement. 'hen the parts are returned the.t'ree space gradually increases until at last it attains the dimension as shown in Fig. 1.

Figure l indicates an intermediate position of parts during the return movement. lt is obvious that during the forward movenient the setting head follows the grooved plate and approaches it. whereas duringr the return movement it is leading, and withdraws from it. ctuation of levers 8 is effected by means of eccentrics 13 mounted on a shaft l2 and by eccentric-rods 14.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

ln the starting position of parts. as shown in Fig. l, match sticks drop from the hopper 5 upon the grooved plate 4 and each of its grooves receives one of the sticks; the latter slightly project on both sides i. e. in front and in the rear ofthe grooves. If now levers 8 are moved in a forward direction .by the eccentric. thc grooved plate 4 and the setting head ti are moved forward as previously described` the front wall of the hopper 5 retaining all other match sticks which did not fall into the grooves of plate 4. During the forward movement of the grooved plate i the setting head (i closes the hopper 5 at its lower end. During the further forward movement the l'ront edge of' setting head (l finally abuis thc rear ends of the match sticks lying on the groovcd plate 4 and pushes the same forward in an axial direction until the front end oll the setting head abuts the rear edge of the grooved plate 4. ln consequence thereof the match sticks project beyond the front edge of the grooved plate 4. far enough to allow the l'ront ends of the match sticks to be inserted in the holes of the carrying belt 7 (Figure 3). 'lhis done. the returnmovement of the parts takes place again (Figure 4). during which setting head 6 returns quicker than the grooved plate. as before stated. so that soon a free space between its front end and the rear edge of the grooved plate is formed. which gradually increases until it gets as wide as shown in Figure 1.

lf desired. also the setting head 6 may he provided with grooves or flulings which aline with the grooves of the grooved plate 4 but are slightly shallower than the latter, so that the front end of the setting head still forms an abutment furthe match sticks on the grooved plate. In the advanced position of setting head 6i in which the latter closes the lower e'Hl of the hopper 5. the match sticks are entering the grooves of the setting lll() head. whereina preliminary setting in order of those sticks takes place that are to he in troduced into the grooved plate. when the latter is again below the hopper 5.

During the return-movement of the setting head 6 and of the grooved plate l thIl match sticks being at that time in the i grooves of setting head 6 are retained h v the rear wall ofthe match stick hopper 7i. so that the same cannot partake in the returirmovement of the setting head and are consequently pushed into the grooves o'l' the grooved plate in perfect order.

For cleaning the grooves of the grooved plate during its return-movement there is used a needle comb 15. located between the match stick hopper 5 and the carrier belt T. r[his needle comb 15 is supported hy a transversal bracket 16 biased downwardly by the action of s rings 17 and resting upon supports 18, w ich in turn rest upon levers 19.

ivotally connected to the frame at 20. The

ree ends of these levers carry rollers 21 which rest upon cam discs 2Q on the shaft 12. The shape of the cam discs 22 is such that levers 19 and also supports 1S and the bracket 16 with its needle comb 15 are lowered under the action of the snings 1T as soon as a small free space has been formed between the setting head and grooved plate 'upon their return movement. Into this s ace the ends of the needles 15 are lowered` t e position ofthe needles corresponding otcourse to that of the grooves of the grooved plate. lVhile the needle comb is in the lowered position, the return-movement of the grooved plate is progressing (Fig. 4) and the ends of the needles consequently act on the whole length of the grooves and clean the same of all splinters. match sticks and similar obstacles. which. might have remained therein. The free ends of levers 1*.) are then again raised by theI cam discs 22 thus raising the needle comb. The latter will remain in its uppermost position. until it again is brought into action after the next following forward movement of the grooved plate.

In the form of the apparatus just dcscribed the rear ends of the grooves of the grooved plate have been t" reed for the entry of the cleaning comb because the setting head in advancing during its retur11-movement has created a free space between itself and the rear edge of the grooved plate.

In the modification shown in Figs. (l to B of the drawing freeing of the rear ends of the rooves of the grooved plate is obtaine as follows :A portion of the setting head which in this case is formed as a grooved ledge',V may be shifted transversely or such a distancethat the grooves of the pusher ledge of same depth as those of the t grooved plate are placed in alignment with those of `the said plate; by this way the needle condi may be lowered into tht` grooves of the grooved ledge and therefore sweeps through the whole length o1I the grooves during the' simultancous"return-movement o1 the pusher l'edgc and oll the pusher plate. t`onserpientllv thc two .said parts may uniformly cvccute both their torward and retnrn-movcinent.

lt desiredthe pusher ledge may also be provided with shallow grooves. as already described with regard tothe Vforegoing modilication. ln the normal position ofthe parts these shallow grom'cs aline with the grooves ol' thc grooved plate. but the t'ront edge of the pusher ledge still forms an abutment for the match sticks lying in the grooves of the grooved plate. 'l`he deeper grooves ot' the pusher plate at least ot' the same depth as the grooves of the grooved plate are displace-d for halt u division. so that. i1A the pusher ledge is transversel)Y shifted for halt' a division in the one direction or in the other. its deep grooves enter in alignment with the grooves o1E the grooved plate.

ln the modification re resented in Figures G to n there is l'urther shown how the principle of construction may be made use of for the simultaneousl inserting ol' two or more rowsl oi sticks by means of only one grooved plate.

lipon a table 22' oil the lrarnc El there is horizontally guided the grooved plate coni` posed ol thc two parts 25 und 25 connected together. ln the transverse ,slot heilig lel't between the two parts .25 and 25 there is placed the pusher ledge iti. movable willi the grooved plate 21 in the movements of the latter and still capable ol' being shil'ted lin transverse direction. The groovcd plate needs to be actuated only in a forward4 and rearward direction and this is cll'ecled in a manner similar to that described with regard to the former modification. viz. by means of levers 2T. which act upon the grooved plate by means oi' links :2S and oseillated by means ot an eccentric gear on the shaft 29. l

ln the starting position. shown in Fig. 6, the grooved plate 25 is just below the match .stick hopper 210 and receives sticks in its grooves. the rear ends of which abut against the front edge of the pusher ledge :36. The position of the grooved plate relative to the match stick hopper Il() is such. that the front ends of the sticks from the very beginning of action project tar enough beyond the grooved plate. to canse them to be inserted in the holes of the carrying belts 31 at the end of the forward movement.

For cleaning the grooved plate there is also like in the preceding form a` needle comb 3Q, located between the match stick hopper 30 and the carrying belt 31. Springs 34 tend to press down thc transverse bracket 33 of the needle comb; the said brat-liet being supported by stays 35. which rest upon levers 36 pivoted to the frame 24. The free ends of levers 36 are acted upon by cam rollers 3i', thereby producing an upand down-movement of the needle comb 3:2.

The stays 35 carry also two slotted guides 38 located above the pusher ledge 26, one being located at eachside of the head. (lone guides 39 are carried by the stays 35 below the pusher ledge 2G, one of these guides being located at each side ot' the head. llach end of the pusher ledge 26 is provided with a pin 40, projecting upward and each end of the ledge 26 is also provided with a pin 41 projecting downward. According to the position of the stays 35 either pins 40 engage the slotted guides 38 or with the lguides 39.

The upper guides 3S contain zigzag slots as may he seen from Figure. 9, whereas the slots of the lower guides are straight in the direction of the forward and baclnvard movement of the grooved plate. The upper pins 40 of the pusher ledge 2G are in enH gagement with the upper guides 38 during the return movement of the grooved plate Q5, and therefore the pusher ledge receives a transverse displacement by means ot the zigzag slots or guides le. The slots or guides 38 are formed and arranged in such a manner. that at the beginning ol' the returnanovement of the groovcd plate 25, pusher ledge 2G is slightly transversely shifted in one direction` then it remains in this position for a certain time. and is then shifted back to its former position` so that, when the starting position of the machine is attained, all the parts occupy their normal position.

During the forward movement of the grooved plate J5 the downward projecting pins 4l of the pusher ledge 2li are ln engagement with the grooves of the lower guides 39, so that the pusher ledge during its whole forward movement is not transversely shifted. 0n the contrary. it is forced in a straight line in order to guarantee its etlicient action as an abutment on the rear ends of the match sticks on the groovcd plate.

lHence after the beginning of the return movement of the groovedplate 25 that is to say after the beginning ot' the downward motion of levers 36, stays 35 and needle comb 32, the upper slotted guides 38 are brought in engagement with the upward projecting,r pins 4() of the pusher ledge 26, and the latter is thereby soon slightly shifted in a transverse direction. The needle comb 32 continuing its descending motion is also capable of entering into the deep grooves of the pusher ledge 26 now in line with the grooves of the groovcd plate and retains its lowest position during the. whole movement of the returning grooved plate. The grooves of the grooved plate are therebyl pins 41 engage i swept throughout their entire length. When the needle comb has left the deep grooves ot' the pusher ledge, the latter is transversely shifted back by the upper slotted guides 38 and as soon as the needle comb has left the grooved plate, the comb is immediately raised by the cam disc 37, whereupon the downward projecting pins 41 of the pusher ledge 26 engage the lower guides 39 thus securing the position ot' the pusher ledge relative to the grooved plate.

The needle comb is retained in its highest position during the entire forward movement ot the grooved plate, and the pusher ledge '26 is guided in a straight line during this whole movement, by the lower guides 39.

Fig. 9 represents in cross-section a grooved plate having grooves alternating in depth for the purpose of allowing the insertiohs ot' two rows of match sticks at a time. The pusher ledge in that case may have the cross-section, shown in Fig. 10, from which it can be seen` that the grooves of full depth and of half the depth are displaced for half a division with regard to the cross-Section of the grooved plate shown in Figure 9. This is still more apparent in Fig. 11, showing the two cross-sections designed superim-` posed. the crossssection of the grooved plate being indicated in dashed lines, while that --ot`V the pusher plate is in 'full lines. This ligure also shows the relative position of the grooves during the fen-ward movement, that is to say; whenth'e sticks are inserted, and ,it can clearly be seen how the lower parts of the deep' and half deepgrooves of the grooved plate are covered by the Vsteps of the pusher ledge, which forms abntmenlrfor the match sticks lying in the grooves. AOn the return' movement of the groove@ plate the pusher ledge is shifted one step to the right, that is to say, for half of a division ot' the grooved plate. The word division" indicates the distance between the centen linesoftwo grooves ot' full depth and of one groove'ot half depth. ln the position of displacement shown in Fig. 12 the steps oflull depth off the pusher ledge perfectly agree with the steps of full depth of the grooved plate and the steps of half depth of the pusher ledge likewise `agree withtfhe grooves of half depth and the comb provided with short and long needles may be lowered intoV the pusher ledge and' then pass through the whole length of the grooves rier, and means to cause-the settinghead to withdraw horizontally from the support near the beginning of the return movement of the latter.

2. In a match making machine, a carrier,

a setting-head and match stick support both settingead starts its return movement it will withdraw from the support horizontally.

3. In a match makin machine the combination of a setting-hea a carrier, a support for holding the match sticks while Vthey are being inserted in the carrier, the settinghead and support beingreciprocable toward and away from the carrier, vertically movable cleaning means for cleaning said su port, means to cause thesetting-head to with draw from the support horizontally near the beginning of the return movement of the support and means to lower the cleaning means after the setting-head starts to withdraw from the support.

4. In a match making machine, a carrier, a setting-head, a support-for holding the match sticks while they are being inserted in the carrier and means for reciprocating said settinghead and support towards and away from the carrier, said means comprising an oscillating lever, means for connecting the setting-head and support to said lever, the support living connected to the lever nearer to its center of oscillation than the setting-head for the purpose described.

5. In a match making machine, a carrier, a setting-head, a grooved support for holding the match sticks while they are being inserted in the carrier, the settingliead and support being reciprocable toward and away from the earner, vertically movable cleaning means for cleaning said support and means to shift the setting-head and support relatively to each other near the begin4 ning of the return stroke of the setting-head and support to provide a clearance at the ends of the grooves in the support and means to lowelthe cleaning means into the clearance thus provided at the end of said grooves.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses,

Ixo. VICTOR vo).Y CZERNVENY. EDUARD BLMEL. ,Witnesses Duro() LAs'rRAs, JQ. SHASEY.

Certificate of Corrction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,419,999, granted June 20, 1922, upon the application of Victor von Czerfvcny, of Deychlndsberg. and Eduard Blmal, of St. Poln, Austria, for an improvement in Matchmaking Machines, on'ol'l eppur in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: 'Page 2, 1to0 25., flier the word head insert theV reference numcra 6,- pugc 3, line 6T, for the wordf grooved" read pusher, and line 70, for the word pushcr read groaned; and that the nid Letters Patent should be rend with thesev corrections therein that .the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oce.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of Novmnbcr, A. D., 1922.

[mn] KARL FENNxNG,

Acting Umnmiaonar of Patsnta. 

